Gasperini warns of abnormal heat ahead of Lecce clash; Roma need peak performance

Gian Piero Gasperini spoke to reporters ahead of Roma's second Serie A fixture at Lecce on 31 August, addressing the unusual heat affecting the campaign and his team selection. The manager acknowledged the abnormal temperatures that have persisted for months, saying: "Abnormal heat that we've been carrying with us for a few months. We hoped that with the start of the championship there would be a bit less. I hope it doesn't also go against the fans." Gasperini built his starting XI around players who have completed full pre-season preparation, particularly Matías Soulé and Emanuele Lulli. Following Roma's strong performance and pace against Fiorentina in the opening fixture, he stressed the difficulty of conditions in Lecce and the standard required to win. "It's our characteristic — with Fiorentina we started very well, taking advantage of the considerable enthusiasm surrounding us," he said. "We know the difficulty of playing here at Lecce. We will have to put in a high-level performance to win today as well." On his squad depth, Gasperini noted: "With these conditions you need to rely on those who are well and have done the preparation like Soulé and Lulli. Everyone is ready now — football is played with 16 players. Substitutions make whoever starts from the bench a starter too." The manager's comments reflected his emphasis on tactical flexibility and the extended squad involvement required across a demanding season.

Roma will face more than just Lecce when they travel to the Via del Mare for the second round of Serie A fixtures. Temperatures are expected to reach 32 degrees Celsius with 70% humidity at kickoff, with only a modest improvement forecast over the following two hours as conditions settle around 30 degrees during the match itself. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini acknowledged the challenge before the fixture, expressing concern about the heat. "Abnormal heat, we've been carrying it for a few months now," he said. "We hope that this doesn't come at the expense of our performance and the spectacle for the fans." The contest will double as an exercise in energy management, with extreme temperatures posing a significant tactical consideration for both sides.

Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini addressed the media before Roma's match against Lecce, highlighting the anomalous heat as a potential obstacle. Speaking to both DAZN and Sky Sport, Gasperini said: "Unusual heat that we have been dealing with for several months. We hoped that with the start of the season there would be less of it. I hope it does not also affect the fans." Gasperini drew comparisons to Roma's previous fixture against Fiorentina, in which the team delivered a strong performance and high tempo. "It is a characteristic of ours. Against Fiorentina we started very well, also exploiting the considerable enthusiasm that surrounds us. We know how difficult it is to play here in Lecce. We will have to deliver a high-level performance to win today as well." He noted that playing in such climatic conditions affects all teams equally, describing them as "fairly at the limit" but common at this time of year. Regarding team selection, Gasperini confirmed opportunities for Matías Soulé and squad depth, saying: "With these conditions you have to rely on those who are in good shape and completed their preparation like Soulé and Lulli. Everyone is ready. Football is now played with 16 players. Substitutions make even those starting on the bench count as starters." On the pairing of Paulo Dybala and Soulé, Gasperini stated: "No, they have also done very good things in the past. Given the prolonged absence of both last year, there have not been many chances to verify this."

Gian Piero Gasperini spoke to reporters ahead of Roma's second Serie A fixture at Lecce on 31 August, addressing the unusual heat affecting the campaign and his team selection. The manager acknowledged the abnormal temperatures that have persisted for months, saying: "Abnormal heat that we've been carrying with us for a few months. We hoped that with the start of the championship there would be a bit less. I hope it doesn't also go against the fans." Gasperini built his starting XI around players who have completed full pre-season preparation, particularly Matías Soulé and Emanuele Lulli. Following Roma's strong performance and pace against Fiorentina in the opening fixture, he stressed the difficulty of conditions in Lecce and the standard required to win. "It's our characteristic — with Fiorentina we started very well, taking advantage of the considerable enthusiasm surrounding us," he said. "We know the difficulty of playing here at Lecce. We will have to put in a high-level performance to win today as well." On his squad depth, Gasperini noted: "With these conditions you need to rely on those who are well and have done the preparation like Soulé and Lulli. Everyone is ready now — football is played with 16 players. Substitutions make whoever starts from the bench a starter too." The manager's comments reflected his emphasis on tactical flexibility and the extended squad involvement required across a demanding season.

Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini addressed the media before Roma's match against Lecce, highlighting the anomalous heat as a potential obstacle. Speaking to both DAZN and Sky Sport, Gasperini said: "Unusual heat that we have been dealing with for several months. We hoped that with the start of the season there would be less of it. I hope it does not also affect the fans." Gasperini drew comparisons to Roma's previous fixture against Fiorentina, in which the team delivered a strong performance and high tempo. "It is a characteristic of ours. Against Fiorentina we started very well, also exploiting the considerable enthusiasm that surrounds us. We know how difficult it is to play here in Lecce. We will have to deliver a high-level performance to win today as well." He noted that playing in such climatic conditions affects all teams equally, describing them as "fairly at the limit" but common at this time of year. Regarding team selection, Gasperini confirmed opportunities for Matías Soulé and squad depth, saying: "With these conditions you have to rely on those who are in good shape and completed their preparation like Soulé and Lulli. Everyone is ready. Football is now played with 16 players. Substitutions make even those starting on the bench count as starters." On the pairing of Paulo Dybala and Soulé, Gasperini stated: "No, they have also done very good things in the past. Given the prolonged absence of both last year, there have not been many chances to verify this."

Gian Piero Gasperini has warned that unseasonably hot conditions could affect the spectacle of Roma's Serie A fixture at Lecce on 31 August, the second round of the season. The head coach acknowledged that Lecce presents a difficult away fixture, but expressed hope that the heat does not compromise the quality of play or the experience for supporters attending in large numbers. Gasperini highlighted Roma's impressive opening-day display against Fiorentina and the momentum surrounding the club as key assets for Sunday's match. He stressed that another strong performance will be required on an awkward pitch. "It's a characteristic of ours; we started very well against Fiorentina and also benefited from the enthusiasm around us. This is another match on a difficult field for everyone. An excellent performance will be needed," he said. On team selection, Gasperini confirmed that Matías Soulé and Emanuele Lulli, who performed well in pre-season, are ready to feature. He noted that modern football demands depth across a 16-player squad and said players will be deployed based on their current fitness levels given the weather conditions.